Oil tester



Aug. 24, 1937. A. EHOMAS 2,091,222

OIL TESTER Filed Sept. 2l, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 @M @mmmf A. G. THOMASAug. 24, 1937.

OIL TESTER Filed' sept. 21, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 All@ 24, 1937 A.THOMAS 2,091,222

OIL TESTER Filed Sept. 2l, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 l.rl/1111111111111l/{llllllllllil Gum/M4496 Au8 24, 1937. A. G. THOMAS v2,091,222

OIL TESTER Filed Sept. 2l, 1934 Sheets-Sheet 4 @M 'a/ca-HMM Aug. 24,1937. A. G. THOMAS OIL TESTER Filed Sept. 21, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5lllllllllll/Il,l

Aug. 24, 1937. A'. G. THOMAS OIL TESTER Filed Sept. 21, 1934 '7Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 24, 1937. A. G. THOMAS OIL TESTER Filed Sept. 2l,1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 lPatented ug. 24, 1937' UNITED ,STATE PATENTvol-rlcia 18 Claims.

This invention relates to an oil tester and more particularly to adevice for determining the viscosity of oil and the amount ofdeleterious foreign material contained therein.

The device is particularly useful for the testing of automobilelubricating oil by a garage or lling station attendant so as todetermine the dilution and decomposition due to heat of the oil afteruse in an automobile and the amount of harmful sediment or solidscontained therein.

Viscosity of any oil is a good indication of its lubricating qualities.Heretofore, the usual test employed by operators of filling-stations hasbeen the examination of the oil as to appearance and texture by lookingat the oil and feeling it. An experienced operator can then make a roughguess as to the lubricating qualities of the oil, but such tests cannotbe depended upon as being certain. Also, the amount of harmful solidscontained in the oil, cannot be reliably estimated by such rudimentarytests.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a device whichwill determine in a simple and expeditious manner the viscosity of oiltaken from an automobile crankcase and also its harmful solid content,which device is capable of being used by men who are not trained in theuse of scientific instruments to obtain consistent and reliable results.l

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which givesdirect readings of the viscosity of the oil in any desired units anddirect readings of the amount of harmful solid content with a minimum ofrequired operations by the 'operatorJ Another object of the inventionresides in the provision of a device which will determine the viscosityof the oil referred to a constant temperature regardless of thetemperature of the oil being tested, throughout an extended range of oiltemperatures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a semi-automatic deviceprovided with interlocks so that certain operations must be performed ina definite sequence.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a unitary devicewhich will determine the viscosity of an oil, determine its harmfulsolid content, and provide a visual comparison of the color and lighttransmitting properties with a sample of a similar unused oil.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description of theA invention shown in the attached drawings,of

which: y i

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one modification of the device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 withcertain of the interior mechanism broken away;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the timing mechanism restoring means;

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the temperature compensating mechanismof the timing device;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the constant speed mechanism of the timingdevice;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a modification of the temperaturecompensating mechanism of the timing device;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a further modicatlon of the temperaturecompensating mechanism of the timing device;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view partly in section of a modification ofthe device;

. Fig. 12 is a detail view showing a modification of the device of Fig.11;

Fig. 13 is a detail view showing a further modij cation of the deviceshown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing a modification wherein the viscosityls indicated by a pointer;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of a modified form of a viscosity tube whichmay be used in any of the embodiments shown in the above figures of thedrawings;

Fig. 16 is a view of a further modified form of a viscosity tube;

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of a simplified form of viscosity tester;

Fig.A 18 is a vertical section on line lB-IS of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a. perspective view of a stand for sup- -porting an oiltester;

the modmcanon shown in Figs. 1 to s, inclusive,

will first be described. Referring to Fig. 2, the

device includes an oil inlet structure indicated generally at I8, aviscosity testing mechanism 5 indicated generally at II, a timing deviceIndicated generalbv at I2, a color comparing device indicated generallyat I3, photo-electric solid content determining mechanism indicatedgenerally at I4, and cleaning mechanism indicated generally at I5. Theentire mechanism is mounted in or supported by a casing I6.

The oil inlet structure I8 includes a funnelshaped chamber I1 mountedupon the top of the casing I6 and provided with a closure member or capI8. The cap I8 is carried by a plunger I8 extending through a packingmember or tube 28 which extends through the bottom of the chamber I1 andupwardly into said chamber to prevent leakage of oil around the plungerI8. The plunger carries at its lower end a piston 2| which provides fora slow return downwardly of plunger I8 for a purpose which willhereinafter be described. The plunger I8 carrying cap I8 may be -raisedby knob 22 to permit a definite quantity of used oil to be -poured intothe chamber I1. The cap I8 may be pivoted at 22 on rodv I8 to turn upwhen lifted to provide more space for pouring oil. Raising of theplunger I8 also releases a latch 23 by means of a projection 24 carriedby the plunger I8 to permit the closing by a spring (not shown) of adrain valve 25 in the bottom of a cup member 26 into which the ollplaced in chamber I1 flows through an aperture 21 in the bottom of thechamber I1. At this time a needle valve 28, operable to close a tube 28leading to the bottom of cup member 26, is closed and the oil fromchamber I1 fills the cup 26 up to the level of an overflow tube 38through which a portion of the oil flows to strike a deflector 3I :(see40 Fig. 3) which deflects a portion of the overflow oil to the colorcomparing device I3. The overflow oil not directed by the deflector 3|is col`- lected by a tube 32 having an enlargedv opening at the upperend and directed to the photo- 45 electric solid content testingmechanism I4.

Viscosity testing device The viscosity testing device comprises atransparent tube 33 mounted in the front of the casing 50 I6 as shown inFigs. 1 and 4 and having its upper end positioned directly below thetube 28 (Fig. 2) passing through the bottom of the cup 26. After the oilhas reached a constant level in the cup 26, the needle valve 28 isopened by the timing 55 device I2 and again closed after a predeterminedlength of time by the timing mechanism I2, as will be hereinafterdescribed. 'Ihe oil in chamber 26 then ilows through the tube 28, whichhas an accurately predetermined bore therethrough, into the tube 33, andthe height which the oil reaches in the tube 33 in the timepredetermined bythe timing mechanism I 2 is indicated on scales 34 and35 mounted upon the front of the casing 65 adjacent tube 33. 'I'hescales 34 and 35 are proto drain the tube 33 by mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

- Timing' mechanism The timing device I2 has for its purpose the openingof needle valve 28 and the closing of this valve after a predeterminedtime has elapsed and includes a temperature compensating mechanism shownmore clearly in Fig. 'l for varying the time of opening of the valve 28,in accordance with the temperature of the oil supplied to the device.'I'he timing device includes a shaft 31 suitably journaled, for example,in the casing I6 and having a gear 38 rigidly secured thereto. Gear 38and pulley 48, which are rigidly secured together, are loosely mountedupon shaft 31. A flexible member 4I is wrapped around pulley 48 andcarries at its lower end a weight 42 which urges the pulley 48 ln aclockwisedirection in Fig. 6. Pulley 48 is provided with a spring detentmember 48 which engages a detent member 48 upon a disk 58 rigidlysecured to the inner end of shaft 31. Disk 58 and shaft 31 are heldagainst clockwise rotation by an arm 5I carried by a rock shaft 52journaled in bearings '52' carried by the casing I6. The arm 5I engagesa pin 53 carried adjacent the periphery of the disk 58 (Fig. 7). Whenthe disk 58 is held against rotation in a clockwise direction by the arm5I, the pulley 48 will likewise be held against clockwise rotation bythe deten 48 and 48 upon the pulley 48 and disk 58, res ctively. Therock shaft 52 may be rocked in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. '7to release the disk 58 by means fof a projection 54 on the startingplunger 55 extending through the top of the casing I6 at the right inFigs. 1 and 2. The projection 54 engages an arm 56 upon the end of therock shaft 52 remote from the arm 5I. 'Ihe rock shaft 52 is urged in aclockwise direction in Fig. 7 by a spring 51 (Fig. 3) which returns arm5I vto its locking position as soon as the starting plunger 55 isreleased.

The speed of rotation of shaft 31 and disk 58 is controlled by aconstant speed device driven by gear 58 carried by a shaft 58 journaledin the speed device may be employed to control the rotation of shaft '31in a clockwise direction in Fig. 7.

Returning to the timing device proper, when disk 58 is released by theactuation of arm 5I by the plunger 55 acting through rock shaft 52, disk58 is carried in the clockwise direction in Fig. 7 by the weight 42acting through pulley 48, at a constant speed determined by the constantspeed mechanism and the weight. Disk 58 is provided with a projection 61having a cam surface which engages a projection 68 upon an arm 18secured to rock shaft 1I to rotate rock shaft 1I in the counterclockwisedirection in Fig. 7. Rock shaft 1I is journaled in bearings 12 carriedby the frame I6 and is provided at its end remote from the arm 18 with asecond arm 13 pivotally connected at 14 to needle ilve 28 which closesthe bore in tube 28 through which oil flows into the viscosity tube 33.Needle valve 28 is slidably mounted in guide 16 carried by tube 29, and

raised by arm 13 to allow oil to ow through tube 29. The valve 28 ismaintained in open position for a predetermined time, depending upon thetemperature of the oil, by mechanism now to be described. .A

Arm 18 attached to rock shaft 'H (Fig. 7) is maintained in its raisedposition for said predetermined time to maintain valve 28 in its opentposition by the temperature compensating mechanism hereinbeforementioned. 'I'he tempera'- ture compensating mechanism includes a disk16 secured to a. stub shaft 11 journaled in a bearing 18 carried by theframe I6 (Figs. 2 and 3). Disk 16 is concentric with shaft 31 and ispositioned adjacent disk 58 carried by shaft 31. Disk 16 is providedwith a pivoted member 19 upon its face adjacent the disk 58. The pivotedmember 19 is disposed radially of the disk 16, is pivoted intermediateits ends, and is provided with a projection 88 extending toward the disk16 and positioned axially thereof. The arm 18 (Fig. "1) secured to therock shaft 1I is provided with an extension 9| which rests upon theprojection 88 when the arm 18 is in its uppermost position to maintainneedle valve 28 open. When the timing mechanism is inactive,v theextension 8| of arm 18 is not supported by the projection 88 of thepivoted member 19 but is positioned between the projection 88 and thedisk 16. Pivoted member 19 is urged by a spring (not shown) so as topress the projection 88 against the center of the disk 16. When arm 18is raised by projection 61 on disk 58, the extension 8| of arm 18 isremoved from between projection 88 and disk 16 and projection 88 isthereupon pressed against disk 16, and when projection 61 of disk 58releases arm 18, the arm 18 is retained in its upper position by itsextension 8| resting upon projection 88 of the pivoted member 19irrespective of the angular position of the disk 16.

The mechanism for closing needle valve 28 after a predetermined timedepending upon the temperature of the oil will now be described. Theshaft 11 to which is secured disk 16 carries at its other end a beveledgear 82 secured thereto, which gear meshes with a beveled gear 83secured to the shaft 84 which extends at right angles to shaft 11through the front of the casing I6, in which it is journaled. The shaft84 is provided i at its outer end with a knurled knob 85 and a pointer86 positioned adjacent a temperature scale 81 on the front of the casingI6. Rotation of knob rotates disk 16 through the beveled gears toposition the radial pivoted member 19 in any desired angular positionabout the shaft 11. Pivoted member 19 carries at its outer end aprojection 88 which is positioned in the path of a projection 89 mountedon the face of the disk 58 which `is adjacent disk 16. The projection 89on disk 58 is provided with a cam surface and continued rotation of disk58 at constant speed by weight 42 acting through pulley 48 will causethe projection 89 on disk 58 to engage the projection 88 on the pivotedmember 19 to rock the pivoted member 19 so as to remove the projection80 thereof from under the extension 8| of arm 18 secured to rock shaft1I. Arm 18 is thereby released and is moved to its lowermost position byspring 98 (Figures 2 and 3) surrounding rock shaft 1| and urging rockshaft 1I in a clockwise direction (Fig. '7).

Before starting the timing mechanism by actuwill be hereinafterdescribed.

ation of plunger 55, pointer 86 (Fig. 1) yis set relative to scale 81 soasl to indicate the ternperature of the oil delivered into cup 26, whichtemperature is shown by a thermometer 9| having its bulb positioned incup 26 closely adjacent the top of tube 29 (Figs. 1 and 3). Needle valve28 is thus maintained open for a period of time determined by therotation of disk 58 from the time projection 61 oi' disk 58 strikesprojection 68 on arm 18 until projection 89 of disk 58 strikesprojection 88 on pivoted member 19 carried by disk 16, which time iscontrolled by the position of disk 16 indicated by pointer 86 ontemperature scale 81.

After the projection 89 of disk 58 strikes the projection 88 on thepivoted member 19 to cause closing of the needle valve 28, disk 58continues to be rotated by pulley 48 and Weight 42 until the pin 53 isagain engaged by arm 5| of rock shaft 52 to prevent further rotation.The timing mechanism is reset for a subsequent test by rotating pulley48 one revolution in reverse or counterclockwise direction in Fig. 6 bygear 39 by means which will hereinafter be described. Rotation of pulley48 in the reverse direction does not rotate disk 58 which is heldstationary by friction or the constant speed mechanism 68. Upon thecompletion of one revolution of pulley 48, the spring detent 48 carriedthereby snaps past detent 49 on disk 58 so that the pulley is inposition to again rotate disk 58 in a, clockwise direction. If desired,the specific temperature compensating means described may be omitted andthe constant speed device adjusted for different constant speeds tocompensate for different oil temperatures.

Color comparing device The color comparing device I3 includes a pair ofspaced glass plates 92, preferably circular in shape with their facesadjacent. The outer peripheries of these plates are partially sealed byan arcuate member 93, and a vertical partition 94 is provided betweenthe plates so as to form chambers 95 and. 96 between the plates. Theouter plate 92 is positioned in an opening in the front wall of thecasing, as shown in Fig. l and Fig. 4. Chamber 95 is adapted to receivea sample of unused oil, which may be sealed within this chamber. Thesealing member 93 is broken away adjacent the upper portion of chamber96 and deflector 3| extends into said chamber 96 so as to direct aportion of the overflow oil from the overflow tube 38 of cup 26, asheretofore described. Chamber 96 may be further provided with an opening91 (Fig. 2) through which oil introduced therein may gradually escape.An electric lamp 98 (Figs. 2 and 4) may be positioned directly back ofsaid color comparing device I3 so that the light therefrom will shinethrough the glass plates 92 and the chambers 95 and 96 containing theoils to be compared. The lamp 98 is automatically lighted upondepression of starting plunger 55 by a switch 99 and automaticallyextinguished by resetting plunger |88 extending through the upperportion of the casing at the left in Fig. 2, by mechanism which seenthat the color comparing device I3 provides for visual inspection of theused oil relative to a sample of unused oil.

Solid content determining mechanism The mechanism for determining theharmful solid content will now be described. This mech- It win thus 'beanism includes a rotary member rotatably mounted in bearings |02 (Figs.2 and 5) carried by the casing I6. The rotary member |0| is positionedto have its axis horizontally disposed and comprises a cylindricalportion |03 having diametrically disposed chambers |04 communicating attheir inner ends adjacent the center of the rotary member |0|. A finemesh screen |05 or equivalent structure, as disclosed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 702,599, filed December l5, 1933, is positionedbetween chambers |04 so as to form a partition therebetween. Rotarymember |0| is normally positioned' with one of the chambers |04 directedupwardly, as

shown in Fig. 2. A portion of the oil which overflows from cup 26through pipe 30 is co1- lected by'tube 32 and delivered into theupwardly directed chamber |04 so as to pass through screen 05.

As used oil is delivered onto the screen |05, a small stream of diluentsuch as kerosene is also directed onto the screen by pipe |06terminating directly above the rotary member |0|. Pipe |06 is connectedthrough valve |01 to a cylinder |08 in which is positioned piston 2|carried by the lower end of plunger I9, as hereinbefore described. Whenplunger |9 is moved upwardly to allow used oil to be poured into chamber|1, piston 2| is moved upwardly in cylinder |08 to draw a quantity ofdiluent through pipe |09 and check valve ||0 from a source of diluent.Valve |01 is normally slightly opened when plunger I9 is raised and asmall quantity of air is also drawn into cylinder |08, When plunger |9is released,

spring urges the plunger I9 of the piston 2| downwardly. Since valve |01is slightly open, a small stream of diluent is forced through tube |06onto the screen |05 and the plunger I9 is allowed to move slowlydownward. This stream of diluent dilutes the used oil in chamber |04 andwashes said oil through the screen |05, leaving-any solid matter in theoil above a predetermined size, determined by the size of the openingsin the screen |05, upon the screen. When plunger |9 carrying piston 2|approaches its lowermost position, an arm ||2 carried by the plunger I9adjacent its lower end strikes the operating lever of valve |01 tocompletely open said valve. Piston 2| thereupon rapidly falls and arelatively large stream of diluent is projected upon screen |05 to morethoroughly wash the oil and finer particles therefrom, which stream isfollowed by a blast of air which blows any remaining diluent out of themeshes of the screen. Valve |01 is urged by a spring (not shown) towardthe closed position but, as above stated, is retained in a slightly openposition by a stop when plunger I9 and arm rl I2 thereof are raised.

Upon depression of starting plunger 55, the lower end thereof contacts aplunger ||3 sliding in guides ||4. The plunger ||3 carries an arm ||5terminating in a pivoted pawl H5' which engages one of four radialprojections I6 carried by rotary member |0| to rotate the rotary memberninety degrees in a clockwise direction in Fig. 2. Plunger ||3 is urgedupwardly by spring IIB and may be returned to its upward positionthereby without rotating rotary member |0| in 4 a reverse direction.Pivoted pawl ||5' snaps over the next adjacent projection ||6 so as tobe in position to cause another ninety-degree rotation of the rotarymember |0|. This rotationof member |0| positions thescreen |05 directlybe- 75 tween an electric lamp anda photo-electric cell ||8 both beingpositioned in a casing 9 which also surrounds the cylindrical portion|03 of the rotary member and is provided with apertures 9 to permit thedelivery of oil or diluent to the screen |05 and the dischargetherefrom. 5 Electric lamp is connected in parallel with lamp 98 of thecolor comparing device, and depression of the starting plunger 55operating switch 99 likewise causes lamp to light. Light passing throughscreen |05 supporting the 10 harmful solid material of the oil fallsupon photoelectric cell |l8 to cause a voltage to be impressed across amilliammeter |9a positioned to have its face exposed through an openingin the front wall of the casing I6, as shown in Figs. 1 15 and'2. Themilliammeter may be calibrated to have full scale deflection when nosolid matter is present upon screen |05 and during operation will give alesser reading, depending upon the amount of material upon said screen.The mil- 20 liammeter may be provided with a scale |20 indicatingwhether the oil is good, poor, or should be changed.

'I'he switch 99, which isoperated to energize lamps 98 and is preferablyactuated by an 25 interlocking slide |2| sliding in bearings |22 carriedby the casing Iii.- The slide |2| is provided with an aperture |23 intowhich extends the operating arm |24 of the switch 99. Switch 99 is ofthe quick snap type so that the arm |24 is 30 maintained in either ofits extreme positions by spring action and must be carried past deadcenter to operate the switch. Since such switches are well-known, it isnot believed necessary to further describe the details thereof. Slide|2| 35 in Fig. 2 is shown in its extreme position toward the left, inwhich position arm |24 of switch 99 is in the olf position. `'Ihe slide|2| is further provided with an .elongated aperture |25 through whichstarting plunger 55 projects. 40 Upon depression of starting plunger 55,a wedgeshaped projection |26 engages the right end of aperture |25 (Fig.2) to force the slide |2| toward the right. Arm |24 of the switch 99 isthereby carried past its center land urges slide 45 |2| further towardthe right, in which position the left end of aperture |25 bears againststarting plunger 55. When starting plunger 55 is returned to its upperposition by spring |21 positioned on top of casing I6, the left end ofap- 50 crture |25 of slide |2| snaps into notch |28 provided in startingplunger 55A so as to prevent another depression of starting plunger 55until after slide |2| has been returned to its position toward the left(Fig. 2) so as to again operate 55 switch 99 to the ofP' position bymechanism hereinafter described.

Cleaning and resetting mechanism comprises a cylinder |29 inwhich ispositioned 65.

a piston |30 carried by a plunger |3| which is urged in an upwarddirection by spring |32. Ref setting plunger |00 carries an arm |33 atits lower end which engages plunger |3| to force the piston |30 carriedthereby downwardly in Fig. 2

Ato draw into the cylinder |29 a charge of cleaning fluid through/pipe|34 and check valve |35 from a Source of cleaning fluid not shown. Arm

. |33 of resetting plunger |00 also engages a. plunger ISG-carrying themovable portion of valve 38 75 in the bottom of viscosity tube 33 so asto carry plunger |36 downwardly against the spring |36' to open valve36. Plunger |36 is retained in its downward position by a spring-pressedlatch |31 which engages the upper end of plunger |36 to maintain valve36 open so as to allow viscosity tube 33 to drain. The-valve 36 isclosed prior to the next test by the spring |36' when the latch |31 istripped by an arm |31' carried by the starting plunger. Resettingplunger |00 also carries an arm |38 intermediate its ends which engagesplunger I|3 of the solid testing device I4 to force the plunger |I3downwardly when resetting plunger I00 is depressed. As hereinbeforedescribed, arm`||5 of plunger |I3 engages one of the radial projectionsI I6 on rotary member I0| to turn this memberthrough a further angle ofninety degrees, thus completely invert' ing screen |05 so as to positionthe solids thereon upon its lower surface. Resettingplunger'l00 alsocarries arm |39' adjacent its upper end which, upon depression ofplunger |00, strikes the operating lever of drain valve of cup 26 so asto operate the valve to open position and 25 so as to cause theAoperating arm thereof to be engaged by latch 23 which maintains thevalve in open position until closed by actuation of plunger |9, ashereinbefore described. Upon return of resetting plunger |00 to itsupper position by spring |39 positioned above the top of the casing I6,piston |30 in cylinder |29 is moved upwardly by spring |32 to delivercleaning fluid through check valve |40 and pipe |50 which terminatesdirectly above the screen |05 of the solid testing mechanism I4 to' washthe deposited solids therefrom. A portion of the cleaning fluid isdirected upwardly from pipe |50 through a branch pipe I5| to supplycleaning fluidto other portions ofthe apparatus. A branch pipe |52 frompipe I5| terminates above chamber 96 of color comparing device I3 andadjacent deilector 3| so as to wash used oil from between the plates ofthe color comparing device I3. Another branch pipe |53 terminates abovethe opening in the upper end of viscosity tube 3 3 so as to directcleaning fluid down therethrough. A third branch pipe |54 terminatesabove cup 26 so as to wash used oil therefrom.

Also, resetting plunger |00 extends through an aperture |55 in theinterlocking slide |2I. A wedge-shaped projection Y |56 upon depressionof resetting plunger |00 engages the left end of aperture to force theinterlocking slide |2I toward the left. This movement of slide |2|actuates switch arm |24 past its center position toward the left so asto actuate switch 99 to the off position, thereby extinguishing lamps 98and II1. The leftward motion of slide |2I removes the left end ofaperture |25 from the notch |28 in starting plunger 55 to release saidstarting plunger. The spring-urged arm |24 of switch 99 urges slide |2|further toward the left so that the right end of aperture |55 of slideI2| is in position to snap into a notch |51 in resetting plunger |00 toprevent another actuation of resetting plunger |00 until Astartingplunger 55 has been actuated to move slide I2I toward the right.Resetting plunger |00 also 70 carries an arm |58 adjacent its upper endwhich engages a rack |59 vertically slidable in a guide carried by thecasing I6 (Figs. 2 and 6) to force said rack downwardly. The rack |59meshes with gear 39 upon the timing mechanism 75 shaft 31 so thatdownward movement of the rack |59 causes rotation of shaft,31 and pulley40 to raise weight 42 to reset the timing mechanism.

The complete operation of the device thus far described-is as follows:Before starting an oil test, the various elements of the apparatus arein the positions shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. A measured quantity ofoil is withdrawn from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine orother source of used oil to be tested and the plunger I9 of the deviceraised by knob 22 to lift cover I8 of the chamber I1. Raising of thisplunger trips the latch 23 to allow the drain valve 25 of the cup 26 toclose by spring action. At the same time arm ||2 of plunger I9 is raisedto allow valve |01 of the cylinder |08 to partially close, and piston 2|in cylinder |08 is raised to draw a charge of diluent and air intocylinder |08. The used oil is then poured into chamber I1 and plunger 22released. The used oil runs down through aperture 21 in the bottom ofchamber I1 into cup 26 and fills this cup up to the level of theoverflow pipe 30. The amount of oil placed in chamber I1 is suilicientto cause a definite quantity of oil to overflow through pipe 30 andstrike the deflector 3| positioned directly below the outlet thereof.The deector divides the stream of oil issuing from pipe 30 and deliversa portion of this oil into chamber 96 of the color comparison device I3.Another portion of the used oil is collected by the enlarged upper endof pipe 32 and delivered onto the screen |05 of the solids determiningmechanism I4. During this time the plunger I9 is being pulled slowlydown by spring III, which motion is controlled by the diluent incylinder' |08 being forced out through partially open valve |01. Thediluent being forced through valve |01 is directed by pipe |06 onto thescreen I 05 of the solids determining mechanism to wash the used oiltherethrough so as to leave the harmful solids of the used oilpositioned upon the upper portion of the screen |05. When the plunger 22approaches its lowermost position, the arm II2 thereof strikes thecontrol lever of valve |01 to open this valve. Plunger 22 is immediatelyforced to its lowermost position by spring ||I, and the remainingdiluent and air in cylinder |08 is quickly discharged through pipe |06to complete the washing of the used oil upon screen |05, andthe blast ofair is eifective to blow the used oil and diluent from the meshes of thescreen |05 to leave only the solids deposited thereon. The device may beadjusted to omit the blast of air, if it is desired to test the dilutedoil illrn.

When plunger 22 has reached its lowermost position, the operator notesthe temperature registered by thermometer 9| (Figs. 1 and 3), which hasits bulb position in the oil in cup 26, and sets the pointer 86 of thetemperature compensating device at the temperature on scale 81 indicatedby the thermometer 9|. After adjusting the temperature compensatingdevice, which is held in place by friction, the operator depressesstarting plunger 55. Depression of this plunger 55 Acauses 'arm |31'carried by the lower end of plunger 55 to strike the l-atch I 31 torelease plunger |36 carrying valve 36 in the lower end of viscosity tube33. Spring |36' returns this plunger to its upper position to closevalve 36. Upon depression of plunger 55, arm 54 carried near the upperend thereof strikes the arm 56 of rock shaft 52 to rotate this shaft ina counterclockwise direction in Fig. 7. This rocking motion of rockshaft 52 disengages arm 5I thereof from the pin 53 of disk 50 of thetiming mechanism. Upon release of disk 50, rotation of this disk in aclockwise direction in`Fig. 7 is effected by weight 42 rotating pulley40 which rotates disk `5I) by the detents 48 and 49. The rotation ofdisk 50, which is fast on shaft 31, is controlled by the constant speeddevice 80 operated by gears 38 and 58 which are fast on shafts 31 and59, respectively.

10 Immediately after disk 50 is released, the projection 61 carried onthe periphery thereof strikes projection 68 on the arm 10 of rock shaft1| to rotate rock shaft 1I in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 7.lIhis rotation of rock shaft 1| raises arm 14 thereof to move the needlevalve 28 from its seat in the aperture through tube 29 extending throughthe bottom of the cup 26. Thereupon used oil in the cup 26 begins toflow through the tube 29 into the viscosity tube 33. When arm 10 of therock shaft 1| is lifted by the projection 61 of disk 50, the extension8| thereof is raised so as to be removed from between the projection 80on pivoted member 19 carried by temperature compensating disk 16 of thetiming mechanism. The projection 80 is thereupon moved axially of disk16 toward the disk by spring action so that the extension 8| of arm 10rests upon the projection 80 of the pivoted member 19 to maintain thearm 10 in its 30 raised position and the valve 28 open until the pivotedmember 19 is actuated to release the extension 8| of thearm 10.Continued rotation of disk 50 causes projection 89 carried upon the facethereof to engage the projection 88 upon the pivoted member 19 after apredetermined time,

depending upon the angular relation of disk 16 and the normal positionof disk 50. Pivoted member 19 is thereby rocked to remove the projection80 thereof from beneath the extension 8| of arm 10 to allow rock shaft1| to be rotated by spring 90 (Fig. 2) to close the valve 28. Theangular position of disk 18 relative to the normal position of disk 50is` indicated by the pointer 86 (Fig. 1) since this pointer is carriedby the shaft 84 which is effective to rotate disk 16 through beveledgears 83 and 82 (Fig. 3).

It will thus be seen that needle valve 28 in cup 26 is opened by thetiming mechanism I2 immediately after starting plunger 55 is depressedand that the valve 28 is maintained open for a period of time determinedby the position of the pointer 86 upon the temperature scale 81. Thetime of valve opening compensates for temperature differences since thehotter the oil, the less viscous it is and, therefore, to compensate forthis effect, the time of valve opening should be less.' The time ofvalve opening may be controlled by any other suitable means which willclose the valve after a predetermined time and which may be varied tocompensate for temperature. The height which the oil reaches inviscosity tube 33 during this time is read upon the scale 38 (Fig. 1) ineither S. A. E. or Saybolt second units. Thus the viscosity oi used oilat any temperature within the range of the machine may be quickly andaccurately determined. The position of the upper end of tube 29substantially in the center of the body of oil in cup 26, where thetemperature of the oil remains substantially constant, and the positionof the thermometer bulb closely adjacent to the top of tube 29 produceextremely accurate results. In practice a very small quantity of oil iswithdr-awn from the cup 26 intermediate the upper and lower surfaces ofthe body of oil so that the head causing the oil to flow through tube 29remains substantially constant and the temperature of the oil owingthrough the tube remains substantially constant.

Depression of starting plunger 55 also depresses plunger |I3 positionedtherebelow to carry this plunger downwardly and cause the pivoted pawlof arm I I5 carried by the plunger I |3 to strike one of the radialprojections I IE on the rotary member I0| of the solids determiningmechanism to rotate the member |0| ninety degrees in a clockwisedirection in Fig. 2. This rotates the rotary member |0| to position thescreen |05 thereof directly between a lamp ||1 and a photo-electric cellII8 positioned on opposite sides of the rotary member.

Also upon depression of starting plunger 55, the cam projection |25carried thereby intermediate its ends strikes the right end of theaperture |25 in the interlocking slide I2| to move the slide toward theright (Fig. 2). Movement of interlocking slide I2| toward the rightoperates arm |24 of switch 99 to energize the light |I1 of the solidsdetermining device I4. The amount of light passing through the screen|05 and striking the photo-electric cell |I8 is indicated by themilliammeter I I9, which indicates the amount of harmful solids carriedby the used oil. Switch 99 also energizes light 98 of the colorcomparing device I3 so that the used oil in chamber 96 of this devicemay be compared with a sample of unused oil in chamber by transmitted orrefracted light. The used oil in chamber 96 gradually leaks out of theaperture 91 in the bottom of chamber 98 so as to leave a film of darkoil on the glass and to prepare the color comparing device for cleaningas hereinafter described.

Movement of interlocking slide I2| toward the right also releases theresetting plunger I 00 by withdrawing the right end of aperture |55 ofthe interlocking slide I2| from the notch |51 in the resetting plunger|00 and also carries the arm |24 of the switch 99 past dead center sothat the spring of the switch urges the slide |2I further toward theright to position the left end of aperture |25 against the startingplunger 55. Upon release of starting plunger 55, this plunger is carriedupward by the spring |21, and the right end of the aperture in the slideI2| snaps into the notch |28 of starting plunger 55 to lock this plungeragainst actuation until slide I2| has been moved to the left byresetting plunger I 00. Return of starting plunger 55 allows the plungerII3 to be moved upwardly by spring H6 so that pivoted pawl |I5 snapspast the radial projection IIB of rotary member I0| of the solidsdetermining device to be in position to again rotate the member IUI.

At this time the operator reads the viscosity of the oil upon scale 34or 35 and the amount of solids contained in the oil upon Scale |20 ofthe milliammeter and may compare the col slof the used and unused oil incolor comparing device I3.

As soon as these readings have been made, the operator depressesresetting plunger |00 to condition the machine for another test. Upondepression of resetting plunger |00, the arm |58 adjacent the top endthereof strikes the rack |59 which meshes with gear 39 secured to thepulley 40 to depress the rack and cause rotation of the pulley 40 in acounterclockwise direction in Fig. 6 through one revolution. Sincepulley 40 and gear 39 are loose upon shaft 31, disk 50 remainsstationary. Spring detent 48 upon pulley 40 snaps past the detent 49upon pulley 50, and

the timing mechanism is thus reset for another actuation. Depression ofresetting plunger also carries downwardly the arm |39 thereof so thatthis arm strikes the operating lever of drain valve 25 of the cup 26 toopen this valve and cause said operating lever to be engaged by latch 23to retain the valve opened. Also depression of resetting plunger |00cause the wedge-shaped projection |56 mounted thereon to engage the leftend of aperture |55 in the interlocking slide |2| to move the slidetoward the left. This movement of the slide |2| actuates the arm |24 ofswitch 99 to de-energize the'lights ||1 and 98 of the solids determiningdevice |4 and the color comparing 'device I3, respectively.

Movement of the slide toward the left also removes the left end ofaperture |25 of the slide |2| from the notch |28 in the starting plunger55 so as to release this plunger for a subsequent actuation.Spring-propelled arm |24 of the switch 99 urges the slide |2| furthertoward the left to cause the right end of aperture |55 thereof to pressagainst resetting plunger |00 so as to engage in the notch |51 thereofand lock the said resetting plunger when it is again allowed to returnto its uppermost position.

Depression of resetting plunger |00 also causes arm |38 thereof toengage the plunger ||3 of the solids determining device to rotate therotary member |0| ninety degrees in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) ashereinbefore described. This completely inverts screen |05 so that thesolids carried thereby are on the under surface of the screen. Also thelower end of resetting plunger |00 engages the valve operating plunger|36 to force this plunger down'and open valve 36 in the lower end of theviscosity tube 33, whereby the used oil in the viscosity tube may draintherefrom. When plunger |36 is in its lowermost position, the latch |31engages thereover to retain it in this position until again released bythe starting plunger 55.

The lower end of resetting plunger |00 also engages the plunger |3| ofthe cleaning device to pull down the piston |30 in the cylinder |29 todraw in a charge of washing uid through the pipe |34. When resettingplunger |00 is released, it is immediately returned to its uppermostposition by spring |39 and is locked in that position by interlockingslide |2|. This allows theplunger ||3 of the solids determining device.to be returned to its uppermost position by spring ||6'.

Also the releasing of resetting plunger |06 allows the plunger |3| ofthe cleaning device to be carried upward by spring |32 to move thepiston |30 upwardly in the cylinder |29. Piston |30 forces the charge ofcleaning fluid contained in cylinder |29 through pipe |50 and branchpipes |5I, |52, |53, and |54 to deliver cleaning fluid onto the screen|05 of the solids determining device |4, into the chamber 96 of thecolor comparing device, into the viscosity tube 33, and vinto the cup26, respectively. This washing fluid washes the solids from the lowersurface of the screen |05 and leaves the solids determining device |4 incondition to receive another charge of used oil. The cleaning fluid alsowashes the Vusedoil from chamber 96 of the color comparing device |3through the aperture 91 in the bottom thereof. Also the cleaning fluidwashes the used oil from viscosity tube 33 through the valve 36 whichlwas opened by the resetting plunger |00. `Likewise cleaning fluid isdelivered into Athe cup 26 to wash the used oil therefrom through thedrain valve 25, also opened by the resetting plunger |00. Thusdepression and release of the resetting plunger washes used oil from theentire machine and conditions the apparatus -to receive another chargeof used oil for another test.

Fig. 9 shows a modification which may be substituted for a portion ofthe temperature compensating and timing device shown in Figs. 1 to 8. Inthis device a disk |6| is secured to a shaft |62 which corresponds tothe shaft 31 of the modifications of Figs. 1 to 8. Disk |6| is driven ina clockwise direction in Fig. 9 and is provided with a projection |62'upon the periphery thereof which strikes a projection on an arm |63carried by a rock shaft |64 corresponding to the rockA shaft 1| of themodification shown in Figs. 1 to 8. The projection |62 is provided witha cam surface to cause rocking of arm |63 and shaft |64 in a. clockwisedirection in Fig. 9 to open the needle valve 28. Rock shaft |64 is alsoprovided with an arm |65 diametrically opposed to arm |63. Upon rockingof shaft |64 by the projection |62', the end of arm |65 is engaged by alatch |66 carried by a. bell crank |61 pivoted at |68 to the frame ofthe device. The bell crank |61 is urge/d in a counterclockwise directionin Fig. 9 by a spring |69 against a stop |10 so that the latch |66retains the arm |63 in its upper position, thus maintaining valve 28open. A knob |1| carrying a cam projection |12 is also mounted uponshaft |62 for rotation relative thereto but is frictionally securedthereto so that relative rotation is resisted.

The projection |12 terminates adjacent the pe'- riphery of the disk |6|and may be placed at' any angular position relative to the disk |6| byturning knob |1| when the disk |6| is held stationary.

The disk |6| may be provided with a. temperature scale |13 for the samepurpose as the temperature scale 81 of Fig. 1. Continued rotation ofshaft |62 and disk |6| after the projection |62' has raised the arm |63will cause the cam projection |12 to strike a projection |14 on the bellcrank |61 to rock the bell crank about its pivot |68. This rockingmotion will disengage the latch |66 from the arm |65`on thc shaft |64 toallow the valve 20 to be closed. In incorporating this device into thecomplete machine, the shaft |62 will preferably be mounted so as toposition the disk |6| adjacent an opening in the front of the casing soas to occupy the position of the temperature scale 81 of Fig. 1. Thissimplified device performs the functions of the more complicatedtemperature compensating device of the modification disclosed in Figs. 1to 8 but has the disadvantage that the temperature scale is carried by arotating member.

A further modification of a simplified temperature compensating deviceis shown in Fig. 10. In this device a shaft |15 carries a sector-shapedcam |16 secured thereto. A second sector-shaped cam |11 is frictionallymounted upon shaft |15 and may be rotated relative thereto by a knob|16. The cams |16 and |11 are positioned closely adjacent each other,and an arm |19 mounted upon a rock shaft |60, corresponding to the rockshaft |64 of Fig. 9, is provided with a cam projection |8| positioned toengage both of the to be closed. By turning knob |18 when shaft |15 andcam |16 are stationary, cam |11 will be rotated relative to cam |16 tovary the angle through which valve 28 is maintained opened and,therefore, the time during which this valve is maintained opened. Thecam |16 may be provided with a temperature scale |82 and the two camspositioned adjacent an opening in the front wall of the casing of thedevice, as stated in the modification of Fig. 9. 'I'he operations of themodifications of Figs. 9 and 10 do not affect l the other operations ofthe machine and will be obvious from the above description.

A simpler modification of the entire oil testing device is showndiagrammatically in Fig. 11.

This modification includes a viscosity testing device, indicatedgenerally at |83, and a solids content determining device indicatedgenerally at |84. The viscosity testing device includes a 20 used oilviscosity tube |85 and a standard oil viscosity tube |86, by which theviscosity of the used oil is compared with the viscosity of an oilhaving a known viscosity so as to give a direct reading of the viscosityof the used oil in S. A. E. or any other desired viscosity units. Theviscosity tubes |85 and |86 are mounted in a frame (not shown) whichalso carries an oil inlet structure, indicated generally at |81, and anoil discharge structure indicated generally at |88. The oil Enletstructure includes a used oil inlet cup |89 secured to the viscositytube |85 by packing |90 and carries a tube |9| extending through thebottom thereof so as to conduct oil from the cup |89 into the viscositytube 85. The upper end of the tube |9| may be closed by a needle valve|92 extending through a guide |93 carried by the tube |9|. The needlevalve |92 is carried by a plunger |94 slidable in a guide |95 andcarrying an operating knob |96. The used oil is delivered into the cup|89 through a cooling tube |91 from a funnel member |98 when the valve|92 is closed and fills the cup |89 up to the level of an overflow tube|99. The viscosity tube |85 is also provided with a vent pipe 200extending into a space 20| between the bottom of the cup |89 and the topof the viscosity tube |85, and a scale 20| graduated in viscosity units.

The oil inlet structure |81 also includes a cup 202 positioned above thestandard oil viscosity tube |86 and secured thereto by packing gland203. The cup 202 is provided with a tube 204 extending through thcbottom thereof so as to deliver oil into the top of the viscosity tube|85. A needle valve 205 for closing the top of tube 204 is also carriedby plunger |94 and extends through a guide 206 secured to the tube 204.The cup 202 is also provided with an overflow pipe 201 which extendsfrom adjacent the top of the cup 202 into the space between the cup 202and 60 top of the viscosity tube |86.

Viscosity tubes |85 and |86 are provided with rotary discharge valves208 and 209, respectively, which valves form part of a shaft 2|0rotatable by an actuating knob 2|I. Valves 208 and 209 are operable tosimultaneously close or open the discharge ends of the tubes |85 and|86, respectively. The valve 209 of viscosity tube |86 is connected to apipe 2|2 which extends laterally and upwardly to a cylinder 2|3 providedwith a 70 pistzoln 2|4 operable by a spring-returned plung- The solidsdetermining device |84 receives a portion of the used oil throughoverflow pipe |99 from cup |89. The used oil from pipe |99 enters 75 thecasing 2|6 of the solids determining device |84 through a funnel 2|1 andflows across the upper surface of a mirror 2|8 positioned in said casing2|6 at an angle of approximately fortyve degrees from the horizontal. Anelectromagnet 2|9 is positioned below the mirror to have one polethereof in contact or closely adjacent the bottom surface of the mirror.The magnet 2|9 retains any solids in the oll which have magneticproperties upon the surface of the mirror, and any solids not havingmagnetic properties also tend to remain upon the surface of the mirrorby adhering to said surface, and also because of a certain amount ofroughness of the surface. An electric lamp 220 is positioned within thecasing 2|6 so as to direct light upon the mirror 2 I8, and aphoto-electric cell 22| is also positioned in the casing 2|6 to receivelight reflected from the mirror 2|8. A milliammeter 222 is positionedupon the top of the casing 2|6 and is connected to photo-electric cell22| so as to indicate the intensity of the light reflected from themirror 2|8.

The operation of the modification of the device shown in Fig. 11 is asfollows. A quantity of oil of known viscosity is normally contained incylinder 2|3 and standard oil viscosity tube |86. In preparation fortesting a quantity of used oil, knob 2| is turned to open dischargevalve 209 of tube |86. Piston 2|4 is thereupon depressed by plunger 2| 5to force standard oil upwardly in viscosity tube |86 and into cup 202.At this time the needle valve 205 is preferably closed so that the oilenters cup 202 through overflow pipe 201. Plunger 2|5 is thereuponreleased to cause the piston 2|4 to withdraw the oil from viscosity tube|86 so as to leave oil in cup 202 up to the level of the overflow intopipe 201. Knob 2|| is then turned to close the discharge valves 208 and209. With needle valves |95 and 205 remaining closed, used oil is pouredinto funnel |98 and allowed to run through the cooling coil |91 into thecup |89. The cooling coil |91 brings the used oil to substantially roomtemperature. Cup |89 is filled up to the level of overflow pipe |99 anda portion of the used oil a1- lowed to ow through pipe |99 into thesolids determining device |84.

At this time the cup |89 is filled with used oil up to the level ofoverflow pipe |99, and the cup 202 is filled with oil having a standardviscosity up to the overflow level of pipe 201. The plunger |96 is thenraised to open needle valves |92 and 205. These needle valves aremaintained open until the oil in standard viscosity tube |86 reaches apredetermined level indicated by a graduation 223 on the tube |86, atwhich time the plunger |96 is lowered to close the needle valves |92 and205. The viscosity of the used oil is indicated by the height of theused oil in viscosity tube |85, and this height may be read upon thescale 20| in terms of S. A. E. or any desired viscosity units. The knob2|| is then turned to cpcn discharge valves 208 and 209 so that the usedoil may drain from viscosity tube |85.

'I'he overflow oil from pipe |99 ows over the mirror 2| 8 in the solidsdetermining device |84 so that harmful solid material carried in the oilis left upon mirror 2|8, especially magnetic material which is retainedupon the mirror by the magnet 2|9. Solids left upon the surface of themirror 2|8 interrupt the light from the lamp 220 to an extent dependingupon the amount of solids present in the used oil, and

the reading of the milliammeter 222 indicates the amount of solids inthe used oil.

InFig. 12 is shown a modification of the valves for controlling theentrance of oil into the vis- `cosity tubes of a testing device similarto that shown in Fig. 11. In this modification inlet cups 224 and 225for oil ot standard or known viscosity and for used oil, respectively,are provided. A metering tube 226 extends through l0 the bottom of cup224 to direct the standard oil into a viscosity tube 221 positionedtherebelow, and a similar metering tube 228 extends through the bottomof cup 225 to direct used oil into the viscosity tube 229. A slide valve230 re- 15 ciprocable in guides 238' is positioned beneath the lowerends of tubes 226 and 228 and is provided with apertures 23| and 232registering with the passageways in tubes 226 and 22|, respectively,when the slide is in the position shown 20 in Fig. 12. A float 233 ispositioned within tube 223 and is provided with an upwardly extendingrod 234 having oppositelydisposed spaced cam projections 235 and 236.The rod 234 extends through an elongated aperture 231 in the slide 25238 so that the cam projection 235 moves slide 230 to the left to openthe ends of tubes 226 and 228 when the float is allowed Yto fall to itsIlowermost position. Also the cam projection 236 forces slide 238 to theright to close the ends of. 30 tubes 226 and 228 when the float 223 isin-its uppermost position. A latch 238 is adapted to engage under aprojection 239 on the upper end of the rod 234 to retain the iioat inits upper position, and the tubes 226 and 228 closed until the latch ismanually released.

In the operation of this device, the float is held in its uppermostposition by the latch 288 to retain the tubes 226 and 228 closed. Ameas- Aured quantity of oil of standard viscosity is 40 placed in cup224 and a similarly measured quantity of used oil having substantiallythe same temperature as the standard oil is placed in cup 225. The latch238 is then tripped to allow the oat 223 to fall and actuate the slide45 230 to open tubes 226 and 228. Standard oil and used oil then flowthrough the metering tubes into viscosity tubes 221 and 229, which atthis time are closed at their lower ends, until the oil in viscositytube 221 raises float 233 to close 50 the tubes 226 and 228. The heightof the used oil in tube 229 will be a measure of the viscosity of thisoil, and a suitable scale (not shown) may be provided so as to permitreading of the height of the oil in any desired viscosity units.

The modification shown in Fig. 13 diiers from that of Fig. 12 only inthe means for operating the slide for closing the lower end of meteringtubes 226 and 228. In this modication a slide 239' reciprocable inguides 240 is urged toward 60 the right to the closed position by aspring 24|.

A latch 242 pivoted at 243 is adapted to engage a projection 244 on theleft end of the slide 239' to hold the slide in open position. One endof the latch 244 is positioned adjacent a pole of an 65 electromagnet245 so as to be moved thereby to release the slide 239 when theelectromagnet is energized. A iloat 246 in viscosity tube 221,

provided with an upwardly extending contact member 241, is adapted to beraised by oil flow- 70 ing into the tube 221 to cause the contact member241 to engage a spring contact member 248 held in the path thereof by aninsulated cam projection 249 thereof bearing against the slide 239' whenit is in the open position. Engage- 75 ment of contact members 241 and228 completes a circuit through the electromagnet 245 and battery 258 toenergize said magnet and trip the latch 242. Slide 239' is therebyreleased and pulled toward the right by spring 24| so that insulatedprojection 249 is no longer engaged oy the slide 238'. Spring contactmember 248 thereupon moves upwardly away from contact member 241 tobreak the circuit through the electromagnet.

In operation, the viscosity tubes 221 and 229 are empty and closed atthe bottom at the beginning of a test and the oat 246 is in itslowermost position. The slide 239 is manually moved toward the left toopen position so as to force the spring contact member 248 downwardlyinto the path of contact member 241. The slide 238 is maintained in openposition by latch 242. Oil of standard viscosity and used oil then flowthrough the metering tubes into Viscosity tubes 221 and 299,respectively, until the oil in viscosity tube 221 raises the float 246to cause the contact member 241 to engage spring contact member 248.Electromagnet 245 is thereby energized to release the slide 239 so as toclose the metering tubes 226 and 228 and cause spring contact member 248to break the circuit through the electromagnet. The height of the usedoil in the viscosity tube 229 may then be read by a scale (not shown)calibrated in any desired viscosity units.

In Fig. 14 is shown another modification of the viscosity tester inwhich a float actuates an indicator to give a direct reading of theviscosity of the oil being tested. This modification includes aviscosity testing chamber 25|, a timing device indicated generally at252, and. a oat and indicator mechanism indicated generally at 253. Theviscosity tube 25| is provided with an inlet tube 254 through the topthereof from a source of used oil (not shown), which used oil haspreferably been brought to a dednite temperature. 'Ihe viscosity testingchamber 25| is further provided with a manually operable drain valve 255for draining the used oil after a test. lA oat 256 forming part of thefloat and indicator mechanism 253 is positioned within the viscositychamber and is provided with an upwardly extending rack 251 slidable inan aperture 258 in the top cover of the viscosity tube. The rack 251 isformed with gear teeth v259 upon one edge thereof meshing with a gear260 journaled at 26| and carrying a pointer 262 having its outer endadjacent an arcuate viscosity scale 263. The other edge of the rack 251is formed with relatively ne detent teeth 264 which are adapted to beengaged by a detent member 265 pivoted at 266 to lock the rack 251 andindicator in xed position. 'I'he detent member is urged toward lockingposition by a spring 261 and may be maintained in unlocking position bya pivoted latch 268. The pivoted latch is urged toward latching positionby a spring 269 and is provided with an operating handle 210.

The timing device 252 includes a rotary member 21| mounted upon a stubshaft 213 and having a lug 212 to 'trip the latch 268. The rotary member21| is driven by a constant speed mechanism (not shown) which moves therotary member at constant speed in a clockwise direction in Fig. 14. Therotary member 21| may be manually rotated in a counterclockwisedirection to engage the lug 212 behind a projection 214 pivoted on astarting lever 215 to reset the timing device. Constant speed mechanismare old and well-lcnowmand since any conventional mechanism may be used,it is not believed necessary to give'further details thereof. If desiredthe constant speed mechanism may be made adjustable to differentconstant speeds so as to compensate for different oil temperatures. Thestarting lever is connected to an arm 216 of the detent member 265 by arod 211 having one end pivotally secured to the starting lever and thother end pivotally secured to the outer end of the arm 216 so thatdepression of the starting lever to release the timing device alsowithdraws the detent member from locking engagement with the detentlatch 264 of the rack 251.

In operation, in order to prepare the device for a test, the startinglever 215 is depressed to withdraw the detent member 265 from lockingengagement with the rack 251 to allow the float 256 to fall to itslowermost position. The springpressed latch 268 engages the detentmember to hold it in unlocked position and the starting lever in itsdownward position. The rotary member 21| of the timing device is thenmanually rotated to position its lug 212 in position to be engaged bythe projection 214 on the starting lever, at which time the latch 268 ismanually tripped by its operating handle 210 to allow the spring 261 toreturn the detent member 265 to locking position and raise the startinglever so as to engage the lug 212 of the timing mechanism. The drainvalve 255 is then closed and the viscosity casing 25| filled or nearlyfilled with oil to be tested. As before stated, the oil may be broughtto a predetermined temperature before being placed in the device or thetiming device adjusted to compensate for the temperature. Also differenttemperature can be compensated for by shifting the scale 263. Thestarting lever is again depressed to release the timing mechanism and towithdraw the detent member from the rack so that itis locked inwithdrawn position by the latch 268. The float rises in the oil at arate depending upon the viscosity of the oil since the float rises moreslowly in a high viscosity oil than in an oil of low viscosity. Thefloat continues to rise until the lug 212 of the constant speedmechanism trips the latch 268 to allow the detent member 265 to stop therack 251 and Iioat. The position of the pointer 262 upon the scale 263will then indicate the viscosity. of the oil.

In Fig. 15 is shown a modified form of viscosity tube which may be usedin any viscosity testing device of the type disclosed in thisapplication.

As shown in this figure, a transparent or translucent viscosity tube 218is constructed with a uniform outside diameter and is provided with aninner bore 219 having a diameter which progressively increases from oneend of the tube to the other. In general, in viscosity testers, theviscosity of liquid expressed in any of the conventional units ofviscosity is not a straight line function of the height of the oil inthe viscosity tube. This results in the viscosity graduations beingcrowded at one end of the tube. By providing a tube with a varyinginside diameter, this condition may be corrected to any desired extentso as to enable a scale with uniform graduations to be used or at leasta scale with the distance between graduations approaching uniformity.The volume of oil in the tube at the time a reading is made is afunction of the viscosity of the oil. With a given volume the height ofthe oil depends upon the inside diameter or area of the tube. Thesmaller the diameter of the tube at any portion thereof the greater willbe the change in height of oil for a given change in volume and thefarther apart corresponding viscosity graduations will be. Byprogressively varying the inside diameter of the tube the viscosityscale may be spread or contracted as desired. 'I'he extent to which theinner diameter of the tubevarieswiiLof couse, depend upon the nature ofthe viscosity testing mechanism and upon the system of viscosity unitsused but may readily be calculated for any particular type of device.

Another modification of a viscosity tube for providing more uniformgraduations indicating viscosity is shown in Fig. 16. In thismodification a transparent or translucent tube 280 is formed withuniform inside or outside diameters. A core 28| having a progressivelyincreasing diameter from one end to the other is positioned within thetube so that the effective interior cross-sectional area of the tubevaries from one end of the tube to the other. The core 28| may bemaintained in position in the tube in any desired manner which willallow oil to flow into or out of the tube, for example, by small radialmembers (not shown) extending between the core .and the tube walladjacent the ends of the tube and core.

A further modification of a simplified viscosity tester is shown inFigs. 17 and 18. This device includes a transparent viscosity tube 282positioned in a supporting member I283 of half tube form with annularends 284 and 285. A funnel member 286 is screw-threaded into the upperend 284 of the supporting member against the viscosity tube 282, and avalve housing 281 is screwthreaded into the lower annular end 285 of thesupporting member against the lower end of the viscosity tube 282. Thesupporting member also carries a viscosity scale 288 secured theretoadjacent the viscosity tube 282.

The valve housing 281 is provided with a metering orifice 289communicating with the interior of the viscosity tube and intersected bya rotary valve 290 having an orifice registering with the meteringorifice 289 when the Valve is in open position. A plate 29| is securedto the valve housing and supports a thermometer 292 having its bulb 293within the valve housing adjacent the metering orifice 289. 'I'he valve290 extends through the' plate 29| and is provided with an actuatingknob rigidly secured thereto. A spring 295 positioned in a cavity in theactuating knob 294 is coiled about the valve 290 and urges said valveand actuating knob in a clockwise direction in Fig. 17 to normallyposition a projection 296 carried by the knob against a stop 291 carriedby the plate 29|, at which time the valve 290 is in its closed position.

The plate 29| also carries a timing device 290 which includes a constantspeed mechanism (not shown) in the interior thereof. The timing device298 is reset or wound by manual rotation in a counterclockwise directionin Fig. 17 and turns at constant speed in a clockwise direction whenreleased. As constant speed mechanisms are old and well-known, it is notbelieved necessary to further describe the details thereof. The timingdevice 298 is provided with ratchet teeth 299 around the peripherythereof engageable by a detent 300 on a tripping member 30| pivoted tothe plate 29| at 302 to hold the timing device in any desired position.A spring 303 tends to rotate the tripping member 30| about its pivot toengage its detent 300 with the teeth 299 of the timing device. Thepivoted member 30| also carries a projection 908 upon its other endadjacent the valve actuating knob 294 which engages the projection 296of said knob to retain the valve 290 in open position. The projection296 ls provided with a camming surface, as shown in Fig. 17, whichengages the projection 304 of the tripping member 30| topivot saidmember and rock the detent 300 thereof away from the teeth 299 of thetiming device to release said device when the valve 290 is manuallymoved to open position. 'I'he projection 296 is further provided with astop portion 305 which maintains the tripping member 30| in releasedposition when the valve 290 is in open position. The timing device isfurther provided with a cam projection 306 adapted to engage aprojection 301 on the tripping member to further pivot this member torelease the projection 304 thereof from the projection 296 of the valveknob 294 to permit the valve to be closed by spring 295. The plate 29|may further be provided with temperature graduations 301 surrounding thetiming device to enable the projection 306 thereof to be set at anyangular position.

In operation the valve 290 is in its closed position at the beginning ofa test. A sample of used oil is poured into the viscosity tube 282through the funnel 286 to iill the tube up to a predetermined heightindicated by a graduation upon the scale 288. The temperature of the oilis noted upon the thermometer 292 and the timing device 298 rotatedmanually in a c'ounterclockwise direction until the cam projection 306is opposite the temperature graduation on the scale 301' correspondingto the thermometer reading. The timing device is held in this positionby the detent 300 of the tripping member 30| engaging the ratchet teeth299. The knob 294 is then manually given a quick turn in acounterclockwise direction in Fig. 17 to open the valve 290. 4o Theprojection 296 of said knob engages the tripping member 30| to releasethe timing device, and the valve is held open by the projection 304 ofthe tripping member engaging said projection 296. 'I'he timing devicethen turns at constant speed in a clockwise direction in Fig. 17 untilthe ture of the oil. The height of the oil remaining in the viscositytube 283 is a measure of the viscosity of the cil, and the scale 288 iscalibrated in any desired viscosity units so that the height of the oilmay be read in terms of the viscosity thereof.

In Fig. 19 is a stand which is particularly adapted to support themodification shown in Figs. l to 8 but may be used to support any of themodifications disclosed, if provided with a suitable casing. The standcomprises an opentopped tank 308 which may be supported at each cornerby a leg 309, The open top of the tank is surrounded by an upper bearingsurface 3|0 -in turn surrounded by an upwardly extending flange 3|| toreceive the lower end of a casing of an oil tester, such as the casingI6 of the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 8. 'I'he tank is furtherprovided with a drain plug 3|2 and a metallic pocket 3|3 adapted toreceive the lower end of an oil gun 3|4 for withdrawing a deiiniteamount of used oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine,which oil gun may be further supported upon the tank by a clip 3| 5secured thereto.

In Figure 20 is shown a modified form of solids determining device whichmay be substituted for the solids determining device |4 in the testingdevice shown in Figs. 1 to 8 or used independently thereof and which issimpler in construction and operation. In this modified form, used oilis delivered by an inlet tube or funnel 3|6 upon an inclined screen 3 |1positioned between spaced transparent plates 3|8. and 3|9. A source oflight such as an electric light 320 is positioned below the plate 3|9 soas to direct light therethrough and through the screen 3 1 and plate 3|8 to a photo-electric cell 32| connected to a meter 322. Used oil frominlet tube 3|6 runs down and through the inclined screen 3|1, leavingsolid particles carried thereby upon the screen. The amount of lightreaching the photo-electric cell 32| from the light 320 is decreased bysaid solid particles, and the reading of the meter 322 is a. measure ofthe solid content of the oil.

Provision is made for cleaning the screen and other portions of thedevice after the completion of a test. For this purpose a pipe 323connected to a source of cleaning fluid under pressure (not shown) isprovided with upwardly directed nozzles 324 for spraying cleaning iiuidupwardly through the screen and downwardly directed nozzles 325 fordirecting cleaning fluid upon the glass plate 3|9. The sprays may havesufficient force so that the fluid from nozzles 324 cleans thetransparent plate 3|8 which protects the photo-electric cell 32|.Another nozzle 326 connected to said source of cleaning fluid may beprovided to spray cleaning iiuid on the top of the screen 3|1 at thesame time that nozzles 324 spray from the bottom.

As shown in Fig. 21, the screen 3|1 may be pivoted as at 321 so as to bemovable into a vertical position against a light spring 328, In thismodification the screen is forced to a vertical position by the spraysfrom nozzles 324 so as to allow thevsolid particles to fall off moreeasily.

In Fig. 22 is shown a further modification of the device of Figs. 1 to8, the principle of which is, however, applicable to the other forms ofthe invention disclosed. In this modification all means for compensatingfor temperature are eliminated, and the oil is brought to a standard orpredetermined temperature before testing for viscosity, by means of anelectric heating element 330 positioned in the cup 26' similar to thecup 26 of Fig. 2. The heating element is energized through a switch 33|from the line 332. Connected in series with the heating element 330 is athermostat 333 also immersed in the oil in the cup, a. signal lamp 334,and the winding of a relay 335. The relay 335 influences a springarmature 336 which normally engages a contact 331 so as to separate saidarmature from the contact when the relay is energized. A solenoidwinding 338 surrounds a tapered magnetic portion 339 of the startingplunger 55 so as to pull down this plunger when the armature 336 engagesthe contact 331 to complete a circuit from the line 332 and switch 33|through the winding 338. The resetting plunger |00' is provided with aprojection 346 for engaging a projection on switch 33| to open thisswitch when the plunger |00' is depressed.

In operation, oil to be tested is introduced into the cup 26 in thesaine manner as into the cup Cil ' liquid, comprising a vertical tube, a

26 of Figs. 1-8. The switch 33| is closed. manually, or as analternative the downward motion of the rod I9 of Fig. 2 could be used toclose this switch. A circuit is thereby completed from the line 332through the winding of relay 335, the heater 330, the thermostat 333,and the lamp 334. A momentary circuit is al'so completed through thesolenoid winding 338, but the in-A ertia of plunger 55 and partsactuated thereby is suicient to prevent movement of the plunger 55before the armature 336 is disengaged from the contact 337 to break thecircuit through solenoid 338. The heater 330 raises the temperature ofthe oil until at a predetermined temperature the thermostat 333 breaks,the circuit through the heater 330 and relay winding 335. When thisoccurs, the armature 336 engages contact 331 to complete the circuitthrough the solenoid 338, and the starting plunger 339 is pulleddownwardly to initiate the operation of the device as in Figs` 1 to 8. Asubsequent actuation of restoring plunger |00 opens the switch 33| todisconnect the device from the line 332 until the switch is again closedas described above.

While for purposes of illustration the various modications of myinvention have all been described as being adapted for testing usedlubrication oil, it is understood that my invention is capable of beingused fcr testing other liquids. It is further understood that myinvention is not to be limited to the precise structure shown but thatvarious changes in details, for example, the provision of automatictemperature compensating means, may be made within the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

l. In a device for testing oil, a viscosity tube, means for metering aow of oil into said tube, a valve for controlling said iiow of oil,means for opening said valve, and timing means settable in accordancewith the temperature of said oil for closing said valve after apredetermined time.

2. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid, comprising atransparent viscosity tube provided with a scale calibrated in viscosityunits, an inlet valve for controlling the flow of liquid to be testedinto said tube and an outlet valve, one of said valves being connectedwith a metering orifice for said liquid, mean: to open said one of saidValves, and a timing mechanism settable in accordance with thetemperature of said oil for closing said opened valve after apredetermined time.

3. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid, comprising avertical tube, a scale callbrated in viscosity units associatedtherewith for indicating the height of liquid in said tube in terms ofviscosity units, a metering valve associated with said tube forcontrolling the ow of said liquid, means for opening said valve, andtiming means settable in accordance with the temperature of the oil forclosing said valve after a predetermined time.

4. A device for determining the viscosity of a cale calibrated inviscosity units associated therewith for indicating the height of liquidin said tube in terms of viscosity units, a metering valve associatedwith said tube for controlling the flow of said liquid, means foropening said valve, timing means for closing said valve after apredetermined time, a temperature responsive means for determining thetemperature of said liquid adjacent said metering valve, and means forsetting said timing mechanism to vary said predetermined time inaccordance with said temperature of said liquid.

5. In a device for determining the viscosity of a liquid, a viscositytube having a scale associated therewith calibrated in viscosity unitsfor indicating the height of liquid in said tube in terms of viscosity,a metering tube connected with a chamber adapted to be filled withliquid to be tested for delivering said liquid from said chamber intosaid viscosity tube, a valve for closing said metering tube, a timingmechanism settable in accordance with the temperature of said liquid foropening said valve and for closing said valve after a predeterminedtime, and means for initiating the operation of said timing mechanism.

6. In a device for determining the viscosity of liquids, a meteringmember having an aperture therethrough, a valve for opening and closingsaid aperture, means for opening said valve, and a timing mechanismsettable in accordance with the temperature of said liquid for closingsaid valve after a predetermined time.

7. In a device for determining the viscosity of liquids, a meteringmember having an aperture therethrough, a valve for opening and closingsaid aperture, means for opening said valve, a timing mechanism. forclosing said valve after a predetermined time, and temperatureresponsive means for indicating the temperature of liquid entering saidaperture, said timing means being settable in accordance with thetemperature of said liquid to vary said vpredetermined time to providefor testing liquids of different temperatures.

8. In a device for determining the viscosity of.

liquids, a metering member having an aperture therethrough, a valve foropening and closing said aperture, means for openingsaid valve, a timingmechanism for closing said valve after a predetermined time, temperatureresponsive means for determining the temperature of the liquid enteringsaid aperture, said timing means including a member rotating at constantspeed, means for causing said valve to close after said member hasrotated through a predetermined angle, and means providing for varyingsaid angle in accordance with the temperature of the' liquid enteringsaid aperture.

9. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid comprising achamber for receiving a body of liquid to be tested, a iloat positionedin said chamber in contact with said body of liquid so as to normallyhave relative movement therewith at a rate determined by the viscosityof said liquid, means to releasably hold said oat below the surface ofsaid liquid, a movable indicator operated by said float, means torelease said holding means, and means to stop the movement of said oatand indicator at a predetermined time after said releasing means hasbeen operated.

10. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid comprising anelongated tube of light transmitting material adapted to receive liquidto be tested, a metering orice connected to the lower portion ofsaidtube. a valve for opening and closing said orice, means for openingsaid valve, timing means for closing said valve after a predeterminedtime, and a scale for indicating the change in height of liquid in saidtube, said scale being graduated in viscosity units.

11. A device for determining the viscosity oi a liquid comprising amember in contact with a body of said liquid and adapted to normallyhave relative movement therewith at a rate determined by the Viscosityof said liquid, means for initiating said movement, a timing device forstopping said movement after a predetermined time, said timing devicebeing settable in accordance with the temperature of said oil, and

a scale for indicating the extent of said move- 5 ment.

12. In an oil testing device, a mechanism for testing a characteristicof said oil, means for delivering a quantity of oil into said mechanism,a starting member for initiating the operation of said testingmechanism, means for discontinuing the operation of said mechanism andmeans for passing a quantity of cleaning fluid therethrough to conditionsaid testing mechanism for a subsequent testing operation.

13. In an oil testing device, a mechanism for testing a characteristicof said oil, means for delivering a quantity of oil into said mechanism,a starting member for initiating the operation of said testingmechanism, means for discontinuing the operation of said mechanism,means for draining said testing mechanism and means for passing aquantity of cleaning fluid therethrough to condition said testingmechanism for a subsequent testing operation.

14. In an oil testing device, a mechanism for testing a characteristicof said oil, means for delivering a quantity of oil into said mechanism,a starting member for initiating the operation of said testingmechanism, means for discontinuing the operation of said mechanism, aresetting member for conditioning said mechanism for a subsequenttesting operation, and interlocking means between said members forpreventing successive operations of either one of `said members.

15. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid, said devicecomprising a vessel adaptto receive liquid to be tested, a meteringorince connected to the lower portion of said vessel, a valve foropening and closing said orifice, means for opening said valve, timingmeans for closing said valve after a predetermined time, and

a scale for indicating the change in height of liquid in said vessel.

16. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid, said devicecomprising, a chamber for receiving a body of liquid to be tested, afloat positioned in said chamber in contact with said body of liquid soas to normally have relative movement therewith at a rate determined bythe viscosity of said liquid, means to releasably hold said float belowthe surface of said liquid, a movableI indicator operated by said float,means to release said holding means, and timing means to stop themovement of said float and indicator at a predetermined time after saidreleasing means has been operated, said timing means being settable inaccordance with the temperature of said liquid.

17. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid, said devicecomprising, a chamber for receiving a body of liquid to be tested, amember having a different specific gravity than said liquid positionedin said chamber in contact with said body of liquid so as to normallyhave relative movement therewith at a rate determined by the viscosityof said liquid, means to releasably hold said member at a predeterminedposition in said liquid to restrain movement thereof, means to releasesaid holding means whereby said member moves in said liquid, a movableindicator operated by movement of said member, and means to stop themovement of said member and indicator at a predetermined time after saidreleasing means has been operated.

18. A device for determining the viscosity of a liquid, said devicecomprising, a member in contact with the body of said liquid adapted tonormally have relative movement therewith at a rate determined by theviscosity of said liquid, means for initiating said movement, a timingdevice for stopping said movement aftera predetermined time and a scalefor indicating the extent of saidmovement.

ALBERT G. THOMAS.

